Diffraktionsphänomenen

Diffraktionsphänomenen refers to the bending and spreading of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle. This phenomenon is a characteristic behavior of all types of waves, including light, sound, and water waves. When a wave encounters an obstacle or aperture whose size is comparable to its wavelength, it does not simply travel in a straight line. Instead, the wave fronts deviate from their original path, spreading out into the region that would otherwise be in shadow.

The degree of diffraction depends on the relationship between the wavelength of the wave and the size of the opening or obstacle. If the opening is much larger than the wavelength, the diffraction effect is negligible, and the wave behaves as if it were traveling in straight lines (like in geometrical optics). However, when the wavelength is comparable to or larger than the size of the opening or obstacle, diffraction becomes significant, and the wave spreads considerably.

A classic example of diffraction is the spreading of light from a narrow slit. When light passes through a single slit, it creates an interference pattern on a screen behind the slit, consisting of a central bright band flanked by alternating dark and bright bands of decreasing intensity. This pattern arises from the superposition of wavelets emanating from different parts of the slit. Similarly, diffraction can be observed when light passes through a diffraction grating, which consists of a series of closely spaced slits, producing a more complex and pronounced interference pattern. Sound waves also exhibit diffraction, which is why you can hear someone speaking around a corner even if you cannot see them.